The promotions are among several student life staffing changes that took effect June 1.
Jana Lynn Patterson and Jodean Schmiederer, two long-serving staff members in the Division of Student Life at Elon, will be taking on new roles and titles effective immediately. The promotions were announced earlier today in an email to faculty and staff from Jon Dooley, the new vice president for student life.
As dean of students she will play a more significant leadership role in the Division of Student Life for internal operations, emergency response, and community relationships regarding student issues of concern. Patterson will continue to serve as the primary advisor to the Student Government Association and will provide divisional leadership in the absence of the vice president for student life.
“Dr. Patterson, or ‘Dean P’ as many students and alumni know her, has been a trusted leader in Student Life and a passionate advocate and mentor for students since she arrived at Elon in 1986,” Dooley said. “I am honored to be able to work closely with her as we continue Elon’s innovative, nationally recognized work to engage students more fully in their college experience.”
Patterson will become the first female leader at Elon to hold the title “dean of students” in the 50 years since the former “dean of women” and “dean of men” positions were merged. In transferring the dean of students title to Patterson, Dooley’s administrative title will be shortened to become vice president for student life.
Dooley also announced that Jodean Schmiederer has been named dean of student development. Her portfolio of responsibilities will expand to include New Student and Transition Programs in addition to her existing work with the Center for Leadership, Moseley Campus Center and Student Involvement. Schmiederer will co-chair the First-Year Committee, convene the Leadership Council and the Hazing Prevention Coalition, and will continue to lead divisional efforts to contribute to Elon’s Writing Excellence Initiative.
Schmiederer joined Elon in 2008 as assistant dean of students and her responsibilities have continued to evolve since that time. She is currently in the final stages of completing a doctorate in educational studies with a concentration in higher education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Other promotions and position changes for existing Student Life staff that were announced previously and took effect on June 1 include:
• Janis Baughman, assistant dean of student development and director of student involvement
• Felicia Cenca, full-time coordinator of violence response
• Tammy Hill, administrative assistant for the associate vice president for student life and dean of students
• Callie Kelly, coordinator of health promotion and substance abuse prevention
• Becca Bishopric Patterson, assistant director of the Gender & LGBTQIA Center
• Yvette Ross, program assistant for the Station at Mill Point neighborhood
• Evan Small, assistant director of experiential learning and outdoor adventures for Campus Recreation
• Anita Smith, assistant director of counseling services
In addition, Evan Heiser was promoted on Jan. 1 to assistant to the vice president for student life and director of student life assessment and planning.
A new organization chart reflecting the changes is available on the Division of Student Life website.